North stars ruled out of HDFNL grand final

Tyson Findlay is helped from the ground after straining his hamstring in the second quarter of the preliminary final. Picture: ADAM BOURKE

North Bendigo will be without star duo Tyson Findlay and Brett Strange as it tries to complete a hat-trick of HDFNL premierships.

The Bulldogs defeated Huntly 12.16 (88) to 8.4 (52) in Saturday’s preliminary final at Elmore, but the win came at a cost.

A serious hamstring injury to midfielder Tyson Findlay in the second quarter finished his day and season, with coach Rob Bennett already ruling the 2015 Cheatley Medal winner out of the grand final clash with Leitchville-Gunbower.

“A couple of our players were around the contest when Tyson got injured and they could hear the (hamstring) snap,’’ Bennett said.

“He’s definitely done.”

The same can be said for ruckman Strange. The big man always faced a race against time to return from a knee injury and Bennett conceded on Saturday night that his time had run out.